Bottle cap



June 14, 1932. GRAHAM 1,862,620

BOTTLE CAP Filed Dec. 19, 1928 IN V EN TOR.

Raw/46mm AT'ToRNEY Patented June 14, 1932 PATENT Y OFFICE I BIALPH A. GRAHAM, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI BOTTLE CAP Application filed December 19, 1928. Serial No. 327,121.

My invention relates to bottle caps and more particularly tocaps of that character which are retained in functional position by engagement with the'bottlcbead, the principal object of the invention'being to provide an easily operable cap which is comparatively inexpensve to manufacture and yet reliable and efficient for capping bottled goods.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein :v

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the component parts of my preferred bottle cap as shown in spaced relation and in position to be inserted on a bottle.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the cap as applied to a bottle, parts of which are broken away to show the method of locking the cap on the bottle.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the cap as being removed from the bottle.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank; from which the closure portion of the cap is formed. 7

Fig. 5 is a perspective sectional view of a modified form of cap retainer ring.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

1 designates a bottle of any ordinary type having a neck 2 provided with a head 3 extending peripherally around the opening 4 of the bottle for retaining a bottle cap. The bottle thus described forms no part of this 5 invention but is simply illustrative of one type of bottle to which my invention may be applied.

5 designates the closure element of my improved cap which is preferably constructed of fibrous material such as water proof paper pulp and is blanked or molded in fiat circular form as shown in Fig. 4, and comprises a central disk portion 6 of a diameter to exten-'l over the end of the bottle l-so that theperiphery of the portion 6 rests on the upper edge of the bead. Extending radially from the periphery of the disk portion are fingers -7 having their juncture with the disk portion scored as at 8 so that. the fingers may be a readily bent downwardly with relation to the cap portion to provide a skirt 9 for engaging over the bead of the bottle as shown in Fig. 2. The fingers are of such length as to extend below the head of the bottle and are further provided with inwardly extending beads or rolled ribs 10 for engaging under the bottle head to retain the closure on the bottle. The inner taper faces 11 of the ribs are adapted to slide downwardly inwardly over the lower rounded face 12 of the bottle head, the disk portion 6 being sealingly engaged with the top edge of the bottle when the iibsd are closely engaged with the side and In order to lock the fingers from outward movement and to prevent disengagement of the finger beads from the head of the bottle,

I provide a sleeve or retaining ring 13 which may also be constructed of fibrous material and which comprises a circular band 14 hav- :0 ing an internal diameter to permit the band to be pressed over the bottle closure to retain the fingers in locked engagement with the bottle. The band 14 is preferably provided with an internally extending portion l5at its upper end preferably comprising a flange for engaging the closure portion 5 of the cap to limit downward movement of the ring on the cap.

As shown in Fig. 5, the retainer ring may be constructed with a solid top 16 for reenforcing the closure portion (5 of the cap.

111 applyingthe cap constructed as described the closure member is placed on the bottle neck, the fingers springing outwardlydue to the resilient nature of the material to permit passage over the bead and as soon as the beaded portion of the lingers have passed the bead, they spring inwardly to engage there-- under and lock the cap to the bottle. The retainer ring is then slipped over the member to lock the fingers in head engaging position.

I have found that the frictional engagement of the ring with the skirt 9 is sutlicient to prevent its upward displacement. however the ring mav be fixed positively by scaling wax or the like which may be placed on the under side of the stop flange. or if the cap members are Water proofed by paraiiine or the like and placed on bottles containin hot contents, the parafline melts a su cient amount to seal the members together and to the-bottle when the contents cool.

Attention is called to the fact that since the cap is preferably constructed of fibrous material, I am enabled to dispense with the usual cork or rubber insert as is commonly used in metal caps since the cap material rovides suflicient compressibility to provi e a positive seal with the bottle neck for retaining pressures and liquid within the bottle.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that I have provided a cap which is simple in construction and operation as well as inexpensive of manufacture.

' What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bottle cap comprising a circular gasket formed of compressible material and having integral flexible fingers adapted to form a split depending skirt, beads at the free lower ends of said fingers comprising enlarged integral portions thereof forming riblike flanges having outer surfaces substantially in the planes of the outer faces of the fingers and convex inner surfaces forming together a circumferential inwardly extending discontinuous annulus to engage under the bead of the bottle, and a retainer including a cylindrical body having substantially the same diameter as the gasket and movable over said fingers so as to form the skirt and having a portion engageable with the outer surface of said annulus to press the beads of the fingers beneath the bottle bead.

2. A bottle cap comprising a circular gasket formed of compressible material and having integral depending flexible fingers adapted to form a split skirt, beads formed on the free lower ends of said fingers comprising enlarged integral portions thereof forming rib-like flanges having outer surfaces substantially in the planes of the outer faces of the fingers and convex inner surfaces forming together a circumferential inwardly extending discontinuous annulus to engage under the bead ofthe bottle, a retainer including a cylindrical body having substantially the same diameter as the gasket and movable over said fingers adapted to form said skirt and having a portion engageable with the outer surface of said annulus to press the fingers against'and the beads carried thereby beneath the bottle head, said body having greater length than said skirt, and

with an inwardly extending flan e to rest,

upon the sealing disk to limit the ownward movement of the retaining ring and the latter being extended below the bead to permit the retaining ring to be readily raised and lifted off the cap.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RALPH A. GRAHAM.

an inwardly extending flange on the upper I edge of said body engageable with said gas et to limit downward movement of said body over saidannulus.

3'. A bottle cap comprising an imperforate sealing disk of a diameter to cover and seal the mouth of a bottle, said sealing disk being composed of flexible waterproof material and provided at its periphery with de- 

